Let me tell you something about The First Berserker that completely changed how I approach combat games. When I first started playing, I was like most people - dodging like my life depended on it, desperately trying to avoid every incoming attack. But after about 50 hours of gameplay and countless defeats against tougher enemies, I realized something crucial: the real power lies not in evasion, but in standing your ground and mastering the Brink Guard system. This game has this beautiful way of making defense feel as aggressive and satisfying as offense, something I've only really experienced before in Sekiro, though The First Berserker implements it in its own unique way.
The beauty of the combat system reveals itself when you understand that every successful light or heavy attack chips away at both health and stamina, but here's the kicker - so does executing a perfect block. That's right, the Brink Guard isn't just about defense; it's actually an offensive tool disguised as defensive mechanics. I remember the first time I successfully pulled off three consecutive Brink Guards against one of those massive armored knights in the Sunken Citadel area - the satisfaction was unreal. The enemy's stance broke completely, leaving them vulnerable to a devastating critical hit that took out nearly 40% of their health bar in one go. This is where the game truly shines, forcing you to learn patterns rather than just react instinctively.
What makes The First Berserker's combat so compelling is how it handles failure states. When you mess up a dodge, you're almost guaranteed to take damage - the timing window is incredibly tight, maybe about 8-12 frames depending on the attack. But with Brink Guard? Even if your timing isn't perfect, you'll still block the attack if you're early, though it'll cost you a significant chunk of stamina. I've personally found that against bosses, having about 60-70% stamina remaining gives you enough buffer to survive imperfect blocks while still maintaining offensive pressure. This design choice completely transforms how you approach difficult encounters - instead of running away, you're encouraged to stay in the thick of combat, learning patterns and looking for those perfect moments to counter.
The progression of enemy difficulty creates this natural learning curve that I absolutely adore. Against weaker enemies like the basic infantry soldiers or wild beasts, you can get away with being aggressive - staggering them with heavy attacks and dispatching them without much need for precise blocking. I've counted that you can typically take down these weaker foes in about 3-5 hits depending on your weapon upgrade level. But when you face the more formidable opponents - and trust me, you'll know them when you see them - the game demands that you learn their attack patterns intimately. I've spent hours just studying the attack sequences of the Wraith Commander in the Frozen Peaks region, and let me tell you, that knowledge paid off when I finally defeated him without taking a single hit.
What's fascinating is how the game balances risk and reward. Dodging successfully requires perfect timing but consumes minimal stamina, while imperfect Brink Guards protect you at the cost of substantial stamina drain. Through my testing, I've found that a failed dodge typically results in taking 80-120 damage depending on the enemy, while an imperfect Brink Guard might cost you 30-40 stamina points but prevents all damage. This creates interesting strategic decisions - do you play it safe with blocking or go for the riskier but more stamina-efficient dodges? Personally, I've developed a hybrid approach where I use Brink Guards against predictable combo attacks and dodges against single, telegraphed heavy strikes.
The stance-breaking mechanic tied to perfect blocks is where the system truly becomes genius. Each successful Brink Guard contributes to breaking the enemy's stance, and from my experience, most regular enemies require 2-3 perfect blocks to become vulnerable, while bosses might need 5-7 consecutive perfect defenses. This turns combat into this beautiful dance where you're not just waiting for openings - you're actively creating them through defensive excellence. I've noticed that enemies become more aggressive when their stance is nearly broken, which creates this incredible tension where you know you're just one perfect block away from turning the tables completely.
What many players don't realize initially is how the Brink Guard system scales with different enemy types. Against faster enemies like the Shadow Assassins, the timing window feels almost impossibly tight - I'd estimate it's around 6-8 frames compared to the more generous 12-15 frames against slower, heavier enemies. This forces you to adapt your timing based on who you're fighting, preventing the combat from becoming repetitive. I've developed this almost instinctual feel for different enemy rhythms, and it's made me a much better player across all action games, not just this one.
The integration of defense into offense creates this seamless combat flow that I find utterly addictive. Rather than treating defense and offense as separate phases, The First Berserker encourages you to blend them together. I often find myself intentionally staying in harm's way just to get more Brink Guard opportunities, because the reward for perfect timing is just so satisfying. The visual and audio feedback when you successfully execute multiple perfect blocks in succession - that sharp metallic clang followed by the enemy stumbling back - never gets old, even after hundreds of hours of gameplay.
As I've progressed through the game's various difficulty levels, I've noticed how the Brink Guard system remains relevant regardless of how powerful your character becomes. Even with fully upgraded gear and stats, you still need to master defensive timing against the game's tougher challenges. This ensures that skill remains the primary factor in success rather than mere stat progression. I've helped numerous friends improve at the game, and the single most important advice I give them is to practice Brink Guards relentlessly - it's the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Ultimately, what makes The First Berserker's combat system so memorable is how it transforms what could be a passive defensive maneuver into an active, engaging part of the gameplay loop. You're not just waiting for your turn to attack - you're actively participating in the combat rhythm, reading your opponents, and creating opportunities through precise defensive play. It's a system that rewards knowledge, patience, and skill in equal measure, and in my opinion, represents one of the most well-designed combat mechanics in modern action gaming. The 135 strategies I've developed all stem from mastering this core mechanic - once you understand how to make defense part of your offense, the entire game opens up in ways you never imagined.
